Wanted Sex Offender Arrested at Local Library

Lubbock Sheriff's Office

Fifty-six year-old Thomas Haynes is in the Lubbock County Jail awaiting extradition back to Arkansas where he's wanted for failing to register as a sex-offender, but it was Lubbock Police who caught up with him at a public library this week and some bizarre circumstances led to his arrest. This time around it's allegedly an instance of what police call "improper photography"and a very observant public library worker.

Haynes walked into the Groves Public Library on 19th and Chicago on June 2nd and brazenly used a digital camera to peer up a woman's skirt and snap a picture. Branch Manager Laurie Fritz says, "She apparently saw him and was able to get the camera away and was looking through the camera and saw other inappropriate images." Corporal Mark Long says, "One of the people got a license plate number and we found out who he was and all the convictions he had for sexually violent offenses."

On Wednesday, Haynes boldly returned to Groves Public Library and sat down at a computer. A library employee recognized him and called 9-1-1. Police arrived minutes later. Fritz adds, "He looked like he was resigned to the fact that he was caught and even looked like he might have been smiling a little." Long says, "We're happy. We've been looking long and hard to see if we can find this guy." Fritz says, "It feels good. We were able to put someone behind bars that could possibly cause harm to other people."

Thomas Haynes is being held without bond. Police are trying to get felony charges worked up on him for failure to register as a sex offender here in Lubbock and of course for the improper photography charges. He's also facing felony charges in Arkansas.

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